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6 green celebs and their eco causes: How Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and other celebs are helping the environment

These days, Mother Earth has some friends in high places. A-list celebs across the globe are speaking up on behalf of the environment, giving their voices, time and money to green causes such as global warming, safe drinking water and saving the whales. From Leonardo DiCaprio to Brad Pitt, here are a few of their pet projects.

Green celeb: Leonardo DiCaprioEco cause: Leonardo DiCaprio FoundationThe scoop: Not only does Leo support earth-friendly causes and make documentaries about global warming, such as the recent The 11th Hour, the actor has his own environmental foundation. Leo’s award-winning eponymous organization teams up with other like-minded groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, Global Green USA and National Geographic Kids to raise awareness about environmental issues such as global warming, alternative and renewable energy sources and biodiversity preservation. Learn more:leonardodicaprio.org

Green celeb: Sienna MillerEco cause: Global CoolThe scoop: As ambassador to the cause, Sienna Miller is lending her celebrity clout to Global Cool, a 10-year campaign to encourage people to reduce their individual CO2 emissions by one tonne. “We all have to start being really proactive,” Sienna said in an interview with BBC News 24. “It’s not the time to say, ‘It’s someone else’s responsibility – they’ll do it.’ We have to all start doing these little things.” Taking part in the charity’s SMS initiative, Sienna, along with other involved celebrities, will reward subscribers in Britain and the United States with two text messages a month offering tips on saving energy.Learn more:globalcool.org

Green celeb: Brad PittEco cause: Global Green USA Holy Cross ProjectThe scoop: Hollywood heavyweight Brad Pitt has been leading the charge on Global Green USA’s Holy Cross Project, pushing for the sustainable redevelopment of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Construction is underway on the affordable-housing project, which will include five single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building and a community centre. “What happened two years ago was a man-made disaster,” says Brad, “and this building offers a man-made solution.”Learn more:holycrossproject.globalgreen.org

Page 1 of 2Green celeb: Courtney Cox Arquette and David ArquetteEco cause: Blue Planet Run FoundationThe scoop: This past summer, the celebrity couple designed a giant three-foot-tall and five-foot-long running-shoe statue as part of Blue Planet Run’s Sneakers in the City outdoor education exhibit. The show, which included 20 celebrity-designed oversize sneakers on display around New York City, kicked off the start of this year’s around-the-world relay, held to promote the need for safe drinking water. The sneakers were later auctioned off on eBay, with all proceeds going to the charity.Learn more:blueplanetrun.org

Green celeb: Barenaked LadiesEco cause: ReverbThe scoop: From tour buses run on biodiesel to extensive concert-venue recycling programs, BNL are committed to making their tours as green as possible. With the help of Reverb, the musicians are offsetting the power consumed at each show – as well as a portion of the carbon emissions generated from their travel on tour buses and planes – with renewable energy. Each concert also features an eco-village, where fans can learn more about the planet, plus buy stickers to offset the CO2 pollution generated by their own drives to the venue.Learn more: reverbrock.org/barenakedplanet

Green celeb: Hayden PanettiereEco cause: Save the Whales AgainThe scoop: As a campaign spokesperson for Save the Whales Again, the latest incarnation of the movement begun in the ’70s, Hayden is putting herself on the frontlines of environmental activism. This Heroes star made headlines when she and a protest group tried to stop local fishermen from killing a group of pilot whales in southwestern Japan. Now, even with an arrest warrant out for her in that country, Hayden says she would do it again. “Hopefully their deaths won’t be in vain,” she says.Learn more:savethewhalesagain.com